What will I learn?
Courses in this major help students to develop analytical, interpretive, and evaluative skills. Divided in two concentrations this major seeks to address important themes that pertain to linguistic and cultural diversity, as well as the impact of the ensuing and continued contact among indigenous people, Africans, and Europeans as a result of the encounter, slavery, displacement, and immigration. Interdisciplinary in nature, the Latin American Studies (LAS) program at Western offers a rich set of courses, preparing students to not only have an in-depth understanding of Latin American histories, cultures, politics, sociologies, and languages, but also to explore Latin America’s connections with a globalized world. The Latin American community at Western believes that it is more important than ever to encourage collaboration across disciplines and to bring together efforts to construct a deep and multiple understanding of a region that is strongly connected with, and has a large impact on, the United States (just as the United States has a large impact on it). The program is jointly housed in the Department of History and the Department of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures, involving other departments and bringing together a variety of scholars of the highest quality from across the campus. Students can earn a B.A. degree in Latin American Studies at Western choosing a Concentration either in History or Spanish. Focusing on Latin American Studies also pairs well as a Second Major to almost any degree program, including History, Spanish, Sociology, Political Science, Anthropology, Business, Journalism, and many others.
